On December 12, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee considered S-2950/A-3451 (Moriarty/Zwicker/Quijano/Reynolds-Jackson/Coughlin), which would gradually lower the employer-size threshold for coverage under New Jersey’s Family Leave Act (FLA). As amended, the bill would apply to employers with 15 or more employees. Earlier versions of the legislation proposed expanding coverage to businesses with as few as five employees.

While the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey (CCSNJ) understands and respects the sponsors’ intent to ensure workers can take necessary family leave without fear of job loss, we remain deeply concerned about the substantial and disproportionate impact this proposal would have on small employers. CCSNJ testified that a one-size-fits-all mandate fails to account for the significant differences between large employers with dedicated human resources departments and the small businesses that form the backbone of South Jersey’s economy.

Despite the business community's opposition, the bill advanced by a vote of 8-5. The bill now awaits a vote by the full Senate.

To read the CCSNJ testimony, click here.